Youth beaten to death over unpaid money dispute in Bhola

A young man was beaten to death with a cricket stump following a dispute over unpaid money in Tazumuddin upazila of Bhola, police and family members said.

The victim, Md Shakil Mistry, 30, died early Sunday, January 11, while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Neurosciences in Dhaka.

Shakil was the son of Md Yunus of the Keranir Dokan area in Ward 8 of Chandpur union and worked as a carpenter.

According to police and eyewitnesses, the incident took place on Saturday evening in front of a shop in the South Aralia area of Chandpur union. The accused, Md Tamim, son of Md Nur Nabi of the same village, allegedly struck Shakil repeatedly with a cricket stump.

Witnesses said Tamim owed Tk 600 to Shakil’s younger brother Rakib. The two got into an argument while playing cricket in the afternoon over the unpaid money. When Shakil tried to stop the quarrel, he slapped Tamim.

Later in the evening, while Shakil was standing in front of the shop watching television, Tamim came from behind and hit him on the head with the stump, knocking him unconscious.

Locals first took Shakil to Tazumuddin Upazila Health Complex, from where he was referred to Bhola General Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was shifted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal and later to the National Institute of Neurosciences in Dhaka, where he died.

Shakil’s father Md Yunus filed a murder case against Tamim at Tazumuddin police station.

“I want justice for my son’s murder,” Yunus said.

Tazumuddin police station officer-in-charge Md Abdus Salam said efforts are under way to arrest the accused.